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Posts with tag sony-bmg

Sony BMG could launch subscription music service

Posted Mar 25th 2008 11:30AM by Brad Linder
Filed under: Audio, Internet

Sony BMG
In an interview with German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Sony BMG CEO Rolf Schmid-Holtz explained that the music studio is considering launching an all-you-can-eat style subscription music service. There aren't a ton of details at this point, and it's not even clear if this subscription plan will ever materialize, but here are a few highlights from the interview:
  • The service would probably cost between 6 and 8 Euros per month (or $9 to $12).
  • This isn't just idle talk. Sony BMG has conducted at least enough market research to set what theybelieve is a fair price.
  • Sony will continue to sell music through Apple's iTunes Store.
Now for the confusing part. Tracks would play on all MP3 players, including the iPod. We assume this means the music would have to be DRM-free, but Schmid-Holtz also explains that most of the music would no longer play if you stop paying your monthly subscription bill. Huh?
[via Engadget]
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Sony to sell DRM-free music online after all

Posted Jan 10th 2008 5:20PM by Brad Linder
Filed under: Audio, Internet, Web services

Amazon MP3Apparently Sony's plan for DRM-free music distribution isn't quite as dumb as we thought. Sure, the music label's announcement that it would sell DRM-free music was quickly followed by the news that you'd have to walk into a bricks and mortar retail store and buy a gift card allowing you to download an album's worth of tracks from the web. But it turns out that's not the only way to get DRM-free music from Sony BMG.

Amazon just put out a press release stating that it will be adding MP3 tracks from Sony to Amazon MP3 later this month. That will make Amazon the first online music store to offer DRM-free music from each of the four major music labels.

No word on how much of Sony's music library will be available via Amazon, but we're just glad to see you'll be able to purchase individual tracks and that you won't have to leave the house to get your music fix.
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Sony may have the oddest plan ever for DRM-free music

Posted Jan 7th 2008 11:00AM by Brad Linder
Filed under: Audio, Internet

Sony BMG MusicPass cardsYou know how we told you the other day that Sony would become the last major label to offer DRM-free music? Yeah, apparently they're going kicking and screaming. While most record labels offering DRM-free downloads are letting users buy songs from online retailers like iTunes and Amazon, Sony wants you to go into a bricks and mortar store and drop $12.99 on a plastic card with a code that will let you download the album from the company's new MusicPass web site.

That's right, you've got to walk into a store, pay for a full album, and then go home to download your song. You might as well just buy a CD while you're at the store and rip it for yourself.

But wait, there's more. Or less, rather. When the service launches on January 15th, there will be a whopping 37 albums available for download. And no way to buy singles.

You'll be able to pick up MusicPass cards at Best Buy, Target, Fred's and a handful of other stores.

[via USA Today]
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Sony BMG dropping DRM

Posted Jan 4th 2008 10:00AM by Brad Linder
Filed under: Audio, Internet

Sony BMG artistsDRM is dead, long live the MP3. OK, dead might be an overstatement, but Sony BMG is the latest major record label planning to offer music in the unrestricted MP3 format. For years, Sony, EMI, Universal, and Warner have insisted on using digital rights management software to limit music piracy. But now each of the major four labels is offering up at least a portion of its library in DRM-free MP3 or AAC formats.

Why the change? Partly because as time goes by and consumers are used to paying for music from online retailers like iTunes or Amazon MP3, fewer people are turning to pirate networks to get free music. But more importantly, over the last few years Apple has developed a near-monopoly on the music download business. And while the record labels are certainly profiting from their relationship with Apple, they also don't want to be locked into selling their music through just one channel. By offering DRM-free music, they can help boost Amazon MP3 and other online music retailers that are competing with Apple.

It's not clear how much of Sony BMG's library will be available DRM-free. But the company does plan to participate in Amazon and Pepsi's upcoming Super Bowl promotion to give away 1 billion DRM-free tracks.
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